Device and process for producing pressurized water and their use for producing beverages

ABSTRACT

A device ( 1 ) for producing pressurized hot or cold water comprising: a water heating and storing tank ( 5 ); a steam generator ( 6 ),—a cold water source ( 13 ); at least one pressurizable transfer tank ( 4 ) provided with: at least an inlet ( 14 ) for filling the tank ( 4 ) with water, an inlet ( 7 ) for introducing steam from the steam generator ( 6 ), and an outlet ( 8 ) for evacuating pressurized water; and separate valve means ( 31, 91, 71 ) to respectively fill the tank ( 4 ) with water, introduce steam in the tank, and evacuate pressurized water from the tank ( 4 ).

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a device for producing pressurized hotor cold water and its use to produce hot and cold beverages.

Beverage production machines can produce beverages by mixing a foodingredient concentrate—either a powder or a liquid concentrate with adiluent such as hot or cold water. To provide more hygienic designs ofsuch devices, product contact surfaces, loose parts requiring cleaningand maintenance, such as seals, impellers and the like are minimized.These machines beneficially utilize mixerless means, such as: a)spraying one of more of the ingredients under pressure thereby creatingturbulent agitation to facilitate mixing; or b) creating a turbulentcondition within an internal static mixing device.

To accomplish the aforementioned requires the delivery of water underpressure to enable a good mixing of the diluent with the foodconcentrate and sometimes to foam the beverage that is formed from thedilution. The production of pressurized water is currently accomplishedusing mechanical water supply pumps and/or the pressure from themunicipal water supply, in conjunction with other elements such as checkvalves, orifice restrictors, adjustable pressure regulators (all ofwhich can adversely impact cost, space need and hygiene).

In very small consumer personal use type beveragebrewing/reconstituting/capsule appliances it is not uncommon for coldwater to be pumped and then heated for the production of hot beverages.The inexpensive mechanical pumps that are used generate a lot of noiseand although they are able to provide a high pressure delivery they havevery limited flow capability. Alternatively, pumps capable of supplyingpre-heated water are typically fairly expensive and subject to scaling.For commercial foodservice production machines that produce a largenumber of beverages per day, such as foodservice machines, thepressurization with such pumps cannot be achieved.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,637 describes a pump that provides hot water andsteam in a single unit. However, this pump can only provide heated wateron a batch dispensing basis and not a continuous flow of heated water.Due to this batch dispensing, it is difficult to sustain the delivery ofmore than 5 cups per minute. This rate is not an issue when the beverageis produced for domestic applications using a beverage ingredientcartridge but, this rate is too low when the beverage is produced from abeverage ingredient stored in a large container, such as a bag-in-box,for a foodservice application considering the higher beverage throughputneeds where cups per unit time is a significant factor.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides for the economical delivery of hot waterat a high flow rate and high pressure on a sustained basis.

According to an embodiment, a device is provided for producingpressurized hot or cold water comprising:

a water tank for heating and storing water;

a steam generator;

a cold water source;

at least one pressurizable transfer tank provided with: at least aninlet for filling the tank with water; an inlet for introducing steamfrom the steam generator; and an outlet for evacuating pressurizedwater; and

separate valve means to respectively fill the tank with water, introducesteam into the tank, and evacuate pressurized water from the tank.

The pressurizable transfer tank is generally linked to the differentsources of water by: at least a water line connecting the water tankand/or the cold water source to the pressurizable transfer tank; a coldwater line connecting the cold water source to the pressurizabletransfer tank; and a steam line connecting the steam generator to thepressurizable transfer tank.

According to an embodiment of the device, the pressurizable transfertank can be provided with a first and a second inlet for filling thetank with water, the first inlet filling the tank with hot water fromthe water tank and the second inlet filling the tank with cold waterfrom the cold water source.

The device in a preferred embodiment comprises valve means on each ofthe lines connected to the pressurizable transfer tank. The valve meansare associated with the inlet for filling or introducing fluids into thepressurizable transfer tank, admit fluids into the pressurizabletransfer tank, and prevent a reverse fluid flow. Preferably, a pressurerelief valve can be installed at the outlet pipe of the pressurizabletransfer tank.

A line connection can be provided between the water tank and the steamgenerator. Then the steam generator can be fed with the hot waterproduced by the water tank acting as a hot water supply.

Preferably, the device of the present invention comprises a controllerthat controls the separate valve means and monitors: the filling of thetank either with cold or hot water; the introduction of steam topressurize water filled in the tank; and the evacuation of pressurizedwater.

Preferably, the inlet for introducing steam into the pressurizabletransfer tank is placed near the top side of the pressurizable transfertank and steam distributor means are provided inside the tank near itstop side. The steam distributor means evenly distributes the steamacross the entire surface of the water thereby minimizing steam mixingwith the water. It also minimizes the heating of ambient or chilledwater in the tank. The steam distributor means can be a mesh screen or amanifold.

According to another embodiment of the device, it comprises a first anda second pressurizable transfer tank and the inlet for filling the tankwith water of the first tank is connected to the water tank and theinlet for filling the tank with water of the second tank is connected tothe cold water source. This embodiment provides the advantage ofconstantly generating pressurized hot water and pressurized cold watereither in the first or in the second tank. In contrast, the previousembodiment of the device only enables the successive production ofpressurized hot water and then of pressurized cold water due to theexistence of only a single tank. The tank must be totally empty beforethe temperature of the pressurized water can be modified.

According to another embodiment, the present invention provides amachine for producing beverages comprising an apparatus for preparingand dispensing a beverage from a concentrated ingredient connected tothe outlet of the device for producing pressurized hot or cold water asdescribed above.

The apparatus for preparing and dispensing a beverage from aconcentrated ingredient can comprise: mixing means; at least a source ofconcentrated ingredient; ingredient dosing means; and dispensing means.

The mixing means can be a mixing chamber with or without a whipper. Dueto the pressure of the water introduced into the mixing chamber,efficient mixing can occur by a simple whirling of the water and foodingredient.

In an embodiment, the mixing means, the ingredient dosing means and thedispensing spout can be integrated into a single cap connected to thesource of concentrated ingredient, to the pressurizable transfer tankand to a motor. Such a cap is described in the application WO2006/005401. The motor is connected to the ingredient dosing device todeliver a dose of ingredient.

According to another embodiment, the machine can comprise a steam lineconnecting the steam generator of the device for producing pressurizedhot or cold water also to the apparatus for preparing and dispensing abeverage from a concentrated ingredient. The steam line enables thedelivery of steam, at the beverage machine side, to froth the beverageduring or further to its production.

Preferably, the volume of the pressurizable transfer tank of the devicefor producing pressurized hot or cold water is about the same volume ofthe intended size for the specific application to be produced by themachine, for example, a cup size. In that situation the pressurizabletransfer tank can be totally emptied each time a beverage is produced.For larger cups, the beverage can be produced according to a batchprocedure.

According to an embodiment, the device of the present invention cancomprise more than one pressurizable transfer tank, each presenting adifferent volume. The volume can depend on the type of beverage it isintended to deliver. For example, one pressurizable transfer tank can bedefined for producing both espresso and long coffee; then the volume canbe about 50 ml. Another pressurizable transfer tank can be defined forproducing long coffee and Carafe's; then the volume can be about 250 ml.And another channel pressurizable transfer tank can be defined forproducing carafe and catering; then the volume can be at least 1 l.

According to another embodiment, the device of the present invention cancomprise a pressurizable transfer tank wherein the volume can beadjusted for the type of beverage that is intended to be delivered bythe machine.

In an embodiment, the invention provides a method for producingpressurized hot or cold water comprising: providing hot water; providingsteam; providing cold water; filling a pressurizable transfer tank witheither the cold or hot water, the tank comprising an outlet; andintroducing steam into the tank so that steam pushes water in the tankthrough the tank outlet.

The steam pushes the water in the tank through the tank outlet as itexpands in the tank.

The amount of pressure generated by the pressurized water is generallycontrolled at least by the pressure of the steam provided to the tankand/or the volume of the pressurizable transfer tank.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a machine forproducing beverages integrating an embodiment of a device for producinghot and cold pressurized water according to the present invention,

FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded views of a cap integrating mixing means,ingredient dosing means and a dispensing spout connectable to anembodiment of a device for producing hot and cold pressurized wateraccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 schematically depicts a device 1comprising a water tank 5 for heating and storing water having a coldwater source 3 that can be, for example, domestic cold water from anordinary pressurized utility water supply line. The water tank 5 can beany kind of boiler that heats water without pressurizing it. The watertank provides hot water through line 10 to a steam generator 6.

In an embodiment, the device comprises a pressurizable transfer tank 4connected to: the cold water source 3 through an inlet 14 to providecold water to the pressurizable transfer tank 4; the water tank 5through an inlet 9 to provide hot water to the pressurizable transfertank 4; and the steam generator 6 through an inlet 7 to provide steam tothe pressurizable transfer tank 4.

The pressurizable transfer tank also comprises an outlet pipe 8. Thisoutlet can be placed near the bottom of the tank 4 so that all the waterin the tank can be pressurized and dispensed. The orientation of thedischarge tube and its position relative to the other parts of thedevice can be selected to adjust the quantity of the water beingdelivered.

Valve means are provided to control the intake of the different fluidsin the different parts of the device 1 of the present invention: valvemeans 11 and 31 control the intake of cold water respectively in thewater tank 5 and in the pressurizable transfer tank 4; valve means 101and 91 control the intake of hot water respectively in the steamgenerator 6 and in the pressurizable transfer tank 4; and valve means 71control the intake of steam in the pressurizable transfer tank 4.

Valve means 81 are also provided on the pipe 8 for evacuatingpressurized water from the pressurizable transfer tank 4. The valvemeans 81 are preferably a pressure relief valve. The valve means 91 forthe intake of hot water in the pressurizable transfer tank 4 and thevalve means 31 for the intake of cold water in the pressurizabletransfer tank 4 can be typical open valves.

The pressurizable transfer tank 4 functions as follows. Depending on ifhot or cold pressurized water must be produced, either intake valvemeans 31 or 91 is opened to fill the pressurizable transfer tank withhot or cold water coming either from the cold water source 3 or from thewater tank 5. Then when there is a need for pressurized water, valvemeans 71 are opened to introduce steam in the pressurizable transfertank and valve means 81 are opened to allow pressurized water to flowout of the pressurizable transfer tank.

Preferably, the pressurizable transfer tank 4 comprises a distributordevice 12 to distribute steam coming from the inlet 7 across the entiresurface of the water in the tank 4. This distributor device can be agrid.

The pressure at which the water is evacuated from the outlet 8 dependsfrom the amount of steam pressure introduced into the pressurizabletransfer tank 4. Typically, water with a pressure of at least 2 bar canbe obtained at the outlet of the pipe 8. The delivered pressure can beadjusted based on the steam pressure and temperature conditions.

The device of the present invention preferably comprises a controller 13that controls the opening and closing of the different valve means 11,101, 91, 31, 71, and 81. The controller 13 particularly monitors: thefilling of the pressurizable transfer tank 4 either with cold or hotwater; the introduction of steam to pressurize water filled in thepressurizable transfer tank 4; and the evacuation of pressurized waterfrom the pressurizable transfer tank 4.

According to an embodiment, two tanks 4 can be used with one beingconnected only to the water tank as a water source, and the other beingconnected only to the cold water source as a water source.

The device 1 for producing pressurized water, such as described above,can be a part of a machine for producing beverages 2. The machine cancomprise at least mixing means 21 into which the pressurized water isintroduced and mixed with a dose of a concentrated food ingredientdelivered from a concentrated food ingredient container 23 using thedosing means 22. The concentrated food ingredient can be either a powderor a liquid concentrate. The invention particularly concerns foodingredients that are either cold, chilled or hot, such as coffee, milk,chocolate, soup, tea, etc. Depending on the liquid or powder form of theconcentrated food ingredients, the container 23 can be either acanister, a box or a pouch, such as a bag-in-box. The dosing means canbe an auger or a rotating pierced plate or any other dosing means knownfor dosing powder. For liquid ingredients, the dosing means can be apump that applies pressure on a flexible tube connecting the container23 to the mixing means 21.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing means,the ingredient dosing means and the dispensing spout can be integratedin a single cap connected to the source of concentrated ingredient. Thecap provides a connection to the pressurizable transfer tank 4 thatdilutes the pressurized water. The cap can also provide a connection toa motor to activate the dosing means.

Because the water is pressurized, the mixing chamber can be a staticmixing chamber without any whipping means. However, whipping means canalso be present according to the present invention. The mixing chambercan comprise dispensing means 24 to evacuate the beverage, such as anozzle, which can improve the texture of the beverage or simply orientits flow to the final beverage container 25.

Optionally, the mixing chamber 21 can be connected to at least the coldwater source 3, the cold water generator 5 and/or the steam generator 6by connecting the mixing chamber 21, respectively, to the pipe 17 thatis connected to the cold water source 3, to the pipe 16 that isconnected to the water tank 5 and to the pipe 15 that is connected tothe steam generator 6, in order to control: the temperature of the finalbeverage; the volume of the final beverage; or the texture of thebeverage. Valve means 102, 92, and 32 can be controlled by thecontroller 13 depending of the desired properties of the final beverage.Texture essentially refers to the frothing/foaming of the beverage.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a metering and mixing device 100, in the formof a cap, which seals the opening of the container 23 when the containeris in an inverted position with its opening facing downwardly. The capalso replaces the mixing chamber 21 and the dispensing means 24. The caphas a tubular connecting portion 101 equipped with connecting means suchas an internal screw thread that complements connecting means on thecontainer, that are also of a screw thread type, for example. The device100 is preferably made of, among other things, two half-shells 100A,100B assembled to one another along a parting line running more or lessin the longitudinal direction of the ducts, particularly of the liquidduct and of the mixing chamber, circulating within the device. The cap100 comprises a built-in metering pump for metering the liquid passingthrough the opening 103.

The pump is preferably a gear pump as described in WO-A-2006/005401. Thepump is defined by a chamber 104 equipped with bearings at the bottom ofeach lateral surface of the chamber and able to guide two rotaryelements 105, 106 cooperating in a geared fashion in order to form themoving metering elements of the pump in the chamber. The rotary element106 is a “master” element equipped with a shaft that is associated witha coupling means that is able to engage with complementary couplingmeans in the base station. The rotary element 105 is the “slave” elementwhich is driven in a direction that is opposite to that of the rotationof the master element so as to meter the liquid through the chamber 104.

The half-shells as so constructed and arranged such that the chamber 104is defined by assembly of the two parts 100A, 100B. The chamber 104 mayhave a hollow frontal part 100B with a bottom surface defining one ofthe lateral surfaces. The other part encloses the chamber via a more orless flat surface portion. Liquid is thus metered through the liquidoutlet duct.

The device comprises a duct 102 for supplying water which intersects theliquid food ingredient duct 107. This duct 102 is connected to theoutlet pipe 8 of the pressurizable transfer tank 4 so that pressurizedwater can be introduced in the cap to mix with the food ingredient.

According to an embodiment, the water duct 102 can also be connected tothe cold water source 3, the cold water generator 5 and/or the steamgenerator 6 by connection of the mixing chamber 21, respectively, to thepipe 17 connected to the cold water source 3, to the pipe 16 connectedto the water tank 5, and to the pipe 15 connected to the steam generator6. The water duct 102 and the food ingredient metering duct 107 are notdirectly positioned so as to intersect one another, but meet in themixing chamber 108. The water duct 102 nevertheless is positioned suchthat its flow is directed toward the liquid flow, i.e., in the directionof the liquid outlet or slightly below. Alternatively, the liquid anddiluent ducts can meet upstream of the chamber 108 so that the same ducttransports the fluids to the chamber 108. Such a duct may be widened asto reduce the pressure drop and allow for an increase in the volume ofthe fluid before it extends into the mixing chamber 108 proper.Restricting the width allows one to accelerate the water flow causing,due to the venturi phenomenon, a pressure at the meeting point that islower than or equal to the pressure of the liquid in the liquid outletduct 107. When the pump is switched off, the equilibrium or differentialpressures, ensures that the water crosses the metering point and travelsas far as the chamber without moving back up inside the liquid duct. Theliquid pump stops while the diluent continues to pass through thedevice, for example, towards the end of the drink preparation cycle inorder to obtain the desired dilution of drink. Likewise, the diluent isused to regularly rinse the device. Thus the liquid, for example, acoffee or cocoa concentrate, is prevented from being contaminated in thecontainer or the pump due to diluent being sucked back through the duct107.

An air intake, defined by an air duct 109 open to the outside, via ahole provided in half shell 100A is preferably used when frothing of theliquid-diluent mixture is desired. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the airintake or channel 109 can be positioned to intersect the water duct 102.Therefore, it is placed before the intersection of the liquid stream anddiluent stream. The air intake 109 may be positioned in the region ofthe restriction 110. The water speed is such in that region that air issucked in the water stream before the stream meets the liquid stream.Such a design reduces the risk of the air intake being contaminated withthe diluted product coming in the air intake by accident.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustraterather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art willbe able to design many alternative embodiments without departing fromthe scope of the appended claims. The word “comprising” does not excludethe presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim.The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presenceof a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures arerecited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that acombination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

The device of the present invention provides the advantage of not onlyproviding hot and/or cold pressurized water, but also steam and nonpressurized cold or hot water. When it is coupled to a machine forproducing beverages, it enables the production of a wide range ofdifferent beverages either hot or not, frothed or not, long or short.

In the present application, “cold water” means ambient temperature wateror chilled water.

Pressurized water produced by the pressurization device of the presentinvention is also helpful in beverage producing machine comprisingventuri devices to drawn in air for foaming.

The device of the present invention in an embodiment can produce hotwater at high flow rate (15-30 ml/s) on a sustained basis and at apressure greater than 1 bar.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. Device for producing pressurizedhot or cold water comprising: a water tank; a steam generator; a coldwater source; at least one pressurizable transfer tank comprising: aninlet for filling the tank with water, an inlet for introducing steamfrom the steam generator, and an outlet for evacuating pressurizedwater; and separate valve means to respectively fill the tank withwater, introduce steam in the tank, and evacuate pressurized water fromthe tank.
 2. Device according to claim 1 wherein the pressurizabletransfer tank comprises a first and a second inlet for filling the tankwith water, the first inlet filling the tank with hot water from thewater tank and the second inlet filling the tank with cold water fromthe cold water source.
 3. Device according to any of claims 1 to 2comprising a controller that controls the separate valve means andmonitors: the filling of the pressurizable transfer tank either withcold or hot water; the introduction of steam to pressurize water filledin the pressurizable transfer tank; and the evacuation of pressurizedwater from the pressurizable transfer tank.
 4. Device according to anyof claims 1 to 3 comprising a fluid line between the water tank and thesteam generator.
 5. Device according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein theinlet for introducing steam in the pressurizable transfer tank is placednear the top side of the pressurizable transfer tank and steamdistributor means are provided inside the tank near its top side. 6.Device according to any of claims 1 to 5 comprising a first and a secondpressurizable transfer tank and the inlet for filling the tank withwater of the first tank is connected to the water tank and the inlet forfilling the tank with water of the second tank is connected to the coldwater source.
 7. Machine for producing beverages comprising an apparatusfor preparing and dispensing a beverage from a concentrated ingredientconnected to the outlet of the device for producing pressurized hot orcold water comprising: a water tank; a steam generator; a cold watersource; at least one pressurizable transfer tank comprising: an inletfor filling the tank with water, an inlet for introducing steam from thesteam generator, and an outlet for evacuating pressurized water; andseparate valve means to respectively fill the tank with water, introducesteam in the tank, and evacuate pressurized water from the tank. 8.Machine according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus for preparing anddispensing a beverage from a concentrated ingredient comprises: mixingmeans; at least a source of concentrated ingredient; ingredient dosingmeans; and dispensing means.
 9. Machine according to any of claims 7 to8 wherein the mixing means, the ingredient dosing means, and thedispensing spout are integrated in a single cap connected to the sourceof concentrated ingredient.
 10. Machine according to any of claims 7 to9 comprising a steam line connecting the steam generator to theapparatus for preparing and dispensing a beverage from a concentratedingredient.
 11. Machine according to any of claims 7 to 10 wherein thevolume of the pressurizable transfer tank of the device for producingpressurized hot or cold water has a volume that is approximately thesame as the smallest beverage to be produced by the machine.
 12. Methodfor producing pressurized hot or cold water comprising: providing hotwater; providing steam; providing cold water; filling a pressurizabletransfer tank with either cold or hot water, the tank comprising anoutlet; and introducing steam into the tank so that the steam pusheswater in the tank through the tank outlet.
 13. Method according to claim12 wherein the pressure generated by the pressurized water is controlledby the pressure of the steam provided to the tank and/or the volume ofthe pressurizable transfer tank.